Self-contained rack display

ABSTRACT

A combination shipping and display container includes a container provided with a removable cover for covering an opening in the container. A frame is located within the container. The frame is preferably provided with a hanger member suitable for supporting product. The hanger member of the frame is proximate the opening for providing access to the hanging product when the removable cover is removed. The invention allows for product to be located on the hanger member of the frame and then sealed within the container. The loaded container may then be shipped to a destination, where the removable cover may be removed to provide consumer access to the product loaded on the hanger member. The container of the invention eliminates a necessity for employees of a store to organize product for display once the product arrives in the store.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers for retaining,protecting, shipping and displaying goods and methods for using suchcontainers. In particular, the present invention relates to a shippingcontainer that is also a container suitable for use for product displayto consumers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Warehouse stores and warehouse clubs have become increasingly popular inthe United States. These types of stores are also sometimes referred toas a “Big Box” or “Price-Impact” store because of the warehouse style ofthe interior and the low prices of products sold therein.

In an effort to keep costs low, products are sometimes displayed intheir shipping boxes, which are oftentimes located on pallets on thestore floor. Tightly packed merchandise within such containers tends tomaintain an orderly appearance and is therefore attractive for consumerpurchase. Other products, however, tend to become disorderly duringshipping and therefore require store personnel to locate the items onshelving or to spend time organizing the product within the containers.

It is desirable to provide a combination shipping and display containerthat may be used to ship product from a manufacturer to a store, such asa warehouse store, and that could be converted into a display containerwith a minimal amount of effort by store personnel. It is furtherdesirable to provide a means for shipping product that doubles as aproduct organizer that maintains product in an orderly condition withinthe container and that assists in dispensing product to an end consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The self-contained rack of the present invention provides theretailer/user a convenient, more appealing display method for hangingproducts. Due to the self-contained design, hanging products are shippedwithin a carton and arrive ready for sale. The design also benefits theconsumer, as it provides the consumer a convenient means of purchase.

The combination shipping and display box of the invention preferablyincludes a container provide with a removable cover for covering anopening in the container. The container may be a cardboard box or othersuitable structure. The removable cover may be a portion of thecontainer defined by perforations or another type of removablestructure. A frame is provided that is sized for locating within thecontainer. The frame is preferably provided with a hanger membersuitable for supporting product. The hanger member of the frame isproximate the opening for providing access to the hanging product whenthe removable cover is removed.

In use, product may be located on the hanger member of the frame andsealed within the container. The loaded container may then be shipped toa destination, where the removable cover may be removed, e.g., aperforated section of the container may be removed, to provide consumeraccess to the product loaded on said hanger member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of combination shipping and displaybox of the invention, shown in a shipping configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the combination shipping anddisplay box shown in FIG. 1, shown in a display configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame for locating in the combinationshipping and display box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the combination shippingand display box of FIG. 1, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the combination shipping anddisplay box of FIG. 1, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the combination shipping and display box ofFIG. 1, taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4, shown in a displayconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, shown is a combination shipping anddisplay box referred to generally as 10. The combination shipping anddisplay box 10 includes a frame 100 and a container 12 having base 14,front face 16, top face 18, back face 20, left face 22 and right face24. Base 14 is partially defined by base front edge 26, base rear edge28, base left edge 30 and base right edge 32.

Front face 16 is partially defined by base front edge 26 and top frontedge 34. Top face 18 is defined by top front edge 34 and top rear edge38. Back face 20 is defined by base rear edge 28, top rear edge 38, rearright edge 40 and rear left edge 42. Left face 22 is defined by rearleft edge 42 and base left edge 30. Right face 24 is defined by rearright edge 40 and rear left edge 42.

In a preferred embodiment, a removable panel 50 (FIG. 1) is defined bytop face 18 and front face 16. However, removable panel 50 may beconfined to a single face, e.g., front face 16 or top face 18. Removablepanel 50 is defined by perforation 52, e.g., formed in front face 16 andtop face 18. In a preferred embodiment, once removable panel 50 isremoved, front face 16 and top face 18 define opening 54 (FIG. 2) incontainer 12.

Finger opening 56 (FIG. 1) is adjacent to removable panel 50, e.g.,defined by front face 16, wherein finger opening 56 is defined by fingeropening perforation 58 in removable panel 50. Finger opening 56facilitates ease of removal of removable panel 50.

Frame 100, best seen in FIG. 3, is sized for locating within container12. Frame 100 is constructed of base structure 102, vertical structure104, and upper structure 106.

Base structure 102 has a right base member 108 having a forward rightupturned end 110 and a right rear end 112. Left base member 114 has aforward left upturned end 116 and a left rear end 118.

Vertical structure 104 has a left vertical member 120. Left verticalmember 120 has a left upper end 122 and a left lower end that joins leftbase member 114 at left rear end 118. Vertical structure 104additionally has right vertical member 126. Right vertical member 126has a right upper end 128 and a right lower end that joins right basemember 108 at right rear end 112. Left diagonal brace bar 127 spansbetween left vertical member 120 and left base member 114. Rightdiagonal bar 129 spans between right vertical member 126 and right basemember 108. Diagonal brace bars 127 and 129 provide support to verticalstructure 104, which assists in allowing vertical structure 104 toremain upright when upper structure 106 is fully loaded.

Upper structure 106 has a right end that joins right vertical member 126at right upper end 128. Upper structure 132 has a left end that joinsleft vertical member 120 at left upper end 122. Upper structure 106additionally defines hanger member 138 that extends forwardly. Hangermember 138 is provided with an upturned forward end 140 for retainingproduct 142 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) on hanger member 138. Hanger member 138may extend upwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, when in an unloaded state.Hanger member 138 may then be deflected downwardly by the weight ofproduct when hanger member 138 is loaded, which allows hanger member 138to fit within a fully enclosed container 12, i.e., fit within container12 when in a shipping configuration as shown in FIG. 1. As consumersremove product from hanger member 138, hanger member 138 may return toan upwardly extended position and extend above top face 18 of container12, which may function to more prominently display product.

Frame 100 is sized such that left base member 114 locates adjacent tobase left edge 30 and right base member 108 locates adjacent to baseright edge 32. Left vertical member 120 locates adjacent to rear leftedge 42 and right vertical member 126 locates adjacent to rear rightedge 40. Upper structure 106 locates adjacent to top rear edge 38 andhanger member 138 locates adjacent to removable panel 50 on top face 18.Therefore, it can be seen that in a preferred embodiment, frame 100substantially fills container 12 to prevent shifting of frame 100 withincontainer 12 and also to function as a structural support, to preventcrushing or damage to container 12 during shipping.

Hanger member 138 of frame 100 is designed to pass through hangerreceiver 144 of product 142. When product 142 is located on hangermember 138, product 142 is retained in an orderly configuration duringshipping. Product 142 is also readily accessible by consumers onceremovable panel 50 is removed from container 12. An example of asuitable product 142 for use with the inventive combination shipping anddisplay box 10 is a thermal carrier bag having a handle that functionsas hanger receiver 144. However, many types of merchandise and packagingcan be easily adapted for shipping and display within Applicant'scombination shipping and display box 10.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectivesand attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as thoseinherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have beendescribed for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes andmodifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A combination shipping and display box comprising: a container withan opening; a selectively removable cover that selectively obstructssaid opening; a frame sized for locating within said container, saidframe having a hanger member for supporting product; and wherein saidhanger member is proximate said opening for providing access to saidproduct when said removable cover is removed.
 2. The combinationshipping and display box according to claim 1 wherein: said containerhas a top face and a front face; and said removable cover is defined bysaid top face and said front face.
 3. The combination shipping anddisplay box according to claim 1 wherein: said removable cover isdefined by perforations in said container.
 4. The combination shippingand display box according to claim 1 wherein: said container furtherdefines a finger opening proximate said removable cover, wherein saidfinger opening facilitates ease of removal of said removable cover. 5.The combination shipping and display box according to claim 1 wherein:said frame defines a hanger member for supporting product, said hangermember extending above a plane defined by a top face of said container.6. The combination shipping and display box according to claim 1wherein: wherein said frame provides structural stability to saidcontainer.
 7. The combination shipping and display box according toclaim 1 wherein: said hanger member is sized to be received within ahanger receiver defined by said product.
 8. A method of shipping andmarketing a product comprising: providing a container that defines anopening; obstructing said opening with a selectively removable cover;locating a frame within said container, said frame having a hangermember for supporting product; loading said hanger member with product;enclosing said container; shipping said loaded container to adestination; removing said removable cover at said destination toprovide consumer access to said product loaded on said hanger member. 9.The method according to claim 8 wherein: said step of removing saidremovable cover exposes said opening that is defined by a top face and afront face of said container.
 10. The method according to claim 8wherein: said step of removing said removable cover includes tearingsaid removable cover along perforations defined by said container. 11.The method according to claim 8 wherein: said step of removing saidremovable container includes punching out a finger opening proximatesaid removable cover, wherein said step of punching out said fingeropening facilitates ease of removal of said removable cover.
 12. Themethod according to claim 8 wherein: said step of loading said hangermember with product includes passing said hanger member through hangerreceiving orifices in said product.